Small End Con Rod Guidance Piston

ABSTRACT

A connecting rod for a piston assembly includes first and second guidance members for guiding a piston assembly within a cylinder during piston stroke along a first axis. The guidance members are supported by first and second support ribs extending from a shaft of the connecting rod and include first and second sliding surfaces for contacting side walls of the cylinder. The connecting rod includes an attachment boss disposed at a first end of the shaft and defines a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The first and second support ribs extend radially outwardly from the attachment boss and are spaced radially about the second axis by approximately 180 degrees.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The subject invention relates generally to a piston assembly and a connecting rod for a piston assembly.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Known piston assemblies include a piston head for reciprocation within a cylinder along a piston stroke. A pair of pin bosses depend downwardly from the piston head, with pin bores defined therein. A connecting rod is pivotably attached via a pin to the pin bores, allowing the connecting rod to oscillate as it translates along the piston stroke. As the piston head translates along the piston stroke, and as the connecting rod oscillates, side loads are induced within the assembly. To take these side loads, piston skirts are provided to slide along the side wall of the cylinder. Known piston skirts depend downwardly from the piston head, or extend outwardly from the pin bosses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES

A connecting rod for a piston assembly is provided. The connecting rod includes a shaft extending between a first end and a second end and an attachment boss disposed at the first end of the shaft. An attachment bore is defined within the attachment boss for receiving a piston pin. At least one guidance member extends from the shaft and has a sliding surface for engaging a side wall of a cylinder.

A piston assembly is also provided. The piston assembly includes a piston head for translation within a cylinder along a first axis. A pair of pin bosses depends downwardly from the piston head in the direction of the first axis. Pin bores are defined therein and are aligned axially with each other defining a second axis. A connecting rod includes a shaft and an attachment boss disposed at a first end of the shaft. An attachment bore is defined within the attachment boss for axial alignment with the pin bores to pivotably connect the connecting rod to the piston head about the second axis. The connecting rod includes at least one guidance member disposed on the shaft for guiding the piston head during translation within the cylinder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross section of an engine having a piston assembly and a connecting rod in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section of the piston assembly in accordance with the exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the piston assembly in accordance with the exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the connecting rod in isolation in accordance with the exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a cross section of a connecting rod in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a cross section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5 in accordance the alternative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, an engine is generally indicated at 20. Referring to FIG. 1, the engine 20 includes an engine block 22 with a bore formed within the engine block 22 defining a cylinder 24 extending along a first axis A. A piston assembly is generally shown at 26, and is disposed within the cylinder 24. The piston assembly 26 includes a piston head 28 having a top that extends circumferentially about the first axis A. A combustion bowl 30 is disposed on an upper surface of the top of the piston head 28. A ring belt 32 depends downwardly from the top in the direction of the first axis A. The ring belt 32 is cylindrical, depending downwardly from the periphery of the top of the piston head 28 and includes a plurality of ring grooves 34 extending circumferentially thereon for supporting a plurality of piston rings 74. Although a cylindrical ring belt 32 is shown, it will be understood that other geometries can be used, such as an oval shape, depending on the type of engine 20 and the shape of the cylinder 24 used. As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 2, a piston gallery 35 is defined in the piston head 28, radially inward of the ring belt 32 and axially beneath the combustion bowl 30. The piston gallery 35 receives oil for cooling the piston during operation of the engine 20, and can be closed by a coverplate (not shown).

Referring again to FIG. 1, a connecting rod 36 is pivotably connected about a second axis B to the piston head 28 and includes a shaft 38 and an attachment boss 40 disposed at a first end of the shaft 38, sometimes referred to as the small end. At a second end of the shaft 38 is a crankshaft boss 42 defining a crankshaft bore 44. The crankshaft boss 42 is pivotably connected to a crank 46, which is in turn connected to a crankshaft 48. The piston head 28 is translatable along the first axis A within the cylinder 24, reciprocating between end points, referred to as piston stroke. As the piston assembly 26 translates along the piston stroke, the shaft 38 of the connecting rod 36 oscillates about the second axis B, turning the crank 46. This converts the reciprocating motion of the piston head 28 into rotational motion of the crankshaft 48, which can be used to rotate a set of vehicle wheels (not shown).

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the piston head 28 includes a pair of pin bosses 50 depending downwardly from the top, and disposed radially inward from the ring belt 32. A set of supports 52 secure the pin bosses 50 to the piston head 28. A pair of pin bores 54 are defined within the pin bosses 50 and are aligned axially with each other along the second axis B. The pin bores 54 are sized to receive a piston pin 56. The attachment boss 40 of the connecting rod 36 defines an attachment bore 58, and is aligned axially with the pin bores 54 along the second axis B. The attachment boss 40 is disposed between the pin bosses 50. The piston pin 56 extends along the second axis B and is inserted through the pin bores 54 and the attachment bore 58 of the attachment boss 40, to pivotably connect the connecting rod 36 to the piston head 28 about the second axis B.

Referring to FIG. 4, the connecting rod 36 is shown in isolation and includes a first guidance member 60 disposed on the shaft 38 to guide the piston head 28 during the piston stroke. The first guidance member 60 includes a first sliding surface 62 that engages a side wall of the cylinder 24. A second guidance member 64 is disposed on the shaft 38 and includes a second sliding surface 66. The first and second sliding surfaces 62, 66 each have an arcuate shape. As viewed from a perspective outside of the piston assembly 26, the first and second sliding surfaces 62, 66 form a convex arc. Extending downwardly between the top of the sliding surfaces 62, 66 and an intermediate point between the top and bottom, the first and second sliding surfaces 62, 66 curve away from the first axis A. Extending downwardly between the intermediate point and the bottom, the first and second sliding surfaces 62, 66 curve toward the first axis A.

A first support rib 68 extends from the shaft 38 perpendicularly to the second axis B to connect the shaft 38 to the first guidance member 60. A second support rib 70 extends from the shaft 38 perpendicularly to the first axis A to connect the shaft 38 to the second guidance member 64. The first and second sliding surfaces 62, 66 are supported by the first and second support ribs 68, 70 and spaced perpendicularly from the first axis A, and from a centerline of the shaft 38, to contact the side walls of the cylinder 24 during the piston stroke.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the first and second support ribs 68, 70 extend radially outwardly from the attachment boss 40, and the second guidance member 64 is spaced radially about the second axis B by approximately 180 degrees from the first guidance member 60. The intermediate point defining the outermost point of the convex arc on the sliding surfaces 62, 66 is aligned with the intersection between the first and second axes A, B, as well as the intersection between the centerline of the shaft 38 and the center of the attachment bore 58, such that the distances between the sliding surfaces 62, 66 is the greatest at the center of the attachment bore 58.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the convex outer surface of the sliding surfaces 62, 66 contacts the side wall of the cylinder 24 at a point of contact, and the oscillating motion of the connecting rod 36 moves the point of contact to various different points along the first and second sliding surfaces 62, 66. Maintaining a point of contact prevents excess contact between the sliding surfaces 62, 66 and the side wall of the cylinder 24 from locking, or jamming, the piston assembly 26 within the cylinder 24.

The first and second guidance members 60, 64 slide along the side walls of the engine 20 cylinders 24, just as a piston skirt (not shown) would. However, the piston assembly 26 in the exemplary embodiment lacks a piston skirt. Therefore, the first and second support ribs 68, 70 are designed to receive the side loads that are incurred during piston stroke and would normally be absorbed by a skirt. To achieve this, the first and second sliding surfaces 62, 66 are disposed substantially beneath the outer profile of the ring belt 32. Referring to FIG. 2, a guidance member radius R₁ is defined as the distance between the first axis A and the outermost point of one of the sliding surfaces 62, 66 in a direction perpendicular to the first axis A. A piston head radius R₂ is defined as the distance between the first axis A and the outermost point of the ring belt 32 in a direction perpendicular to the first axis A. The guidance member radius R₁ is substantially the same as the piston head radius R₂. According to the exemplary embodiment, the guidance member radius R₁ is within approximately ±5% of the piston head radius R₂, so, for example, if the piston head radius R₂ is 500 millimeters, then the guidance member radius R₁ would be between approximately 475 millimeters and 525 millimeters.

In order to accommodate the loading imposed on the first and second guidance members 60, 64, the first and second sliding surfaces 62, 66 could be accommodated with a friction reducing coating, or with a bearing surface, such as a rolling or sliding bearing. Additionally, just as the shape of the ring belt 32 could differ, the geometry of the first and second sliding surfaces 62, 66 would need to accommodate the specific shape of the cylinder 24, depending on the type of engine 20 used.

In addition, the piston head 28 is constructed without a skirt, and the size of the ring belt 32 depending from the periphery of the piston head 28 needs only to be necessary to support the desired number of piston rings 74. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the ring belt 32 includes a lower distal edge 72 disposed, in the direction of the first axis A, below the lower-most piston ring 74. The lower distal edge 72 does not need to extend, in the direction of the first axis A, beyond the center of the pin bores 54. According to the exemplary embodiment, the lower distal edge 72 extends, in the direction of the first axis A, no further than the top of the pin bores 54. Alternatively, the lower distal edge 72 can extend to some point intermediate the top of the pin bores 54 and the center of the pin bores 54.

Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 5-6, the connecting rod 36 could include a ring 74 surrounding the first and second guidance members 60, 64. A coating surface can be provided on said first and second guidance members 60, 64 radially inward of said ring 74 allowing the connecting rod 36 to slide relative to the ring as it oscillates during the piston stroke. In this alternative embodiment, the first and second sliding surfaces 62, 66 are disposed on the outer surface of the ring 74 to engage the cylinder 24 along the piston stroke. The ring 74 could optionally include a split 78 for manufacturing and installation purposes.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described while within the scope of the appended claims. These antecedent recitations should be interpreted to cover any combination in which the inventive novelty exercises its utility. 

1. A connecting rod for a piston assembly comprising; a shaft extending between a first end and a second end, an attachment boss disposed at said first end of said shaft defining an attachment bore therein for receiving a piston pin, and at least one guidance member extending from said shaft having a sliding surface for engaging a side wall of a cylinder.
 2. A connecting rod as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sliding surface is defined as an arcuate surface.
 3. A connecting rod as set forth in claim 2 wherein said sliding surface extends in the direction of the first axis between a top and a bottom and curves away from the first axis between the top of the sliding surface and an intermediate point intermediate the top and bottom and curves toward the first axis between the intermediate point and the bottom of the sliding surface defining a convex arc.
 4. A connecting rod as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shaft is pivotable about said attachment bore for contacting the side wall of the cylinder on a point of contact of said sliding surface and for moving said point of contact between a top and bottom of said sliding surface as the attachment boss translates within the cylinder.
 5. A connecting rod as set forth in claim 1 including a first guidance member having a first sliding surface for engaging a first portion of the side wall of the cylinder and a second guidance member having a second sliding surface for engaging a second portion of the side wall of the cylinder.
 6. A connecting rod as set forth in claim 5 including a first support rib extending from said shaft connecting said shaft to said first guidance member and including a second support rib extending from said shaft connecting said shaft to said second guidance member.
 7. A connecting rod as set forth in claim 6 including a ring surrounding said first and second guidance members and wherein said first and second sliding surfaces are disposed on an outer surface of said ring.
 8. A connecting rod as set forth in claim 7 including a coating surface disposed on said first and second guidance members radially inward of said ring.
 9. A connecting rod as set forth in claim 6 wherein said first and second support ribs extend radially outwardly from said attachment boss.
 10. A connecting rod as set forth in claim 9 wherein said second support rib is spaced radially about said attachment boss by approximately 180 degrees from said first support rib.
 11. A connecting rod as set forth in claim 10 wherein a first distance is defined on a line between the first sliding surface and the second sliding surface perpendicular to a centerline of the shaft and passing through an intersection of the centerline and the center of the attachment bore and wherein said first distance is greater than any other distance being defined on a line between the first and second sliding surfaces perpendicular to the centerline defining a convex arc along said first and second sliding surfaces.
 12. A connecting rod as set forth in claim 1 including a crankshaft boss defining a crankshaft bore at said second end of said shaft for connecting said shaft to a crank.
 13. A piston assembly comprising; a piston head for reciprocating within a cylinder along a first axis and including a pair of pin bosses depending downwardly from said piston head in the direction of the first axis and defining pin bores therein aligned axially with each other defining a second axis, a connecting rod including a shaft and an attachment boss disposed at a first end of said shaft and said attachment boss defining an attachment bore for axial alignment with said pin bores to pivotably connect said connecting rod to said piston head about the second axis, and said connecting rod including at least one guidance member disposed on said shaft for guiding said piston head during translation within the cylinder.
 14. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said guidance member includes a sliding surface for engaging side walls of the cylinder.
 15. An assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said sliding surface is defined as an arcuate surface.
 16. An assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said sliding surface extends in the direction of the first axis between a top and a bottom and curves away from the first axis between the top of the sliding surface and an intermediate point intermediate the top and bottom and curves toward the first axis between the intermediate point and the bottom of the sliding surface defining a convex arc.
 17. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 including a ring belt depending downwardly from a radial periphery of the piston head.
 18. An assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said ring belt includes a lower distal edge extending in the direction of the first axis and extending no further than a center of said pin bores.
 19. An assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said ring belt includes a lower distal edge extending in the direction of the first axis and terminating between a top of said pin bores and a center of said pin bores.
 20. An assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said ring belt includes a lower distal edge extending in the direction of the first axis and extending no further than a top of said pin bores.
 21. An assembly as set forth in claim 17 including a guidance member radius being defined as the distance between the first axis and an outermost point of said sliding surface and a piston head radius being defined as the distance between the first axis and an outermost point of said ring belt and wherein said guidance member radius is substantially the same as said piston head radius.
 22. An assembly as set forth in claim 21 wherein the distance associated with said guidance member radius is within approximately ±5% of the distance associated with said piston head radius.
 23. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 including a first guidance member having a first sliding surface for engaging the sidewalls of the cylinder and a second guidance member having a second sliding surface for engaging the sidewalls of the cylinder.
 24. An assembly as set forth in claim 23 wherein said second guidance member is spaced radially by approximately 180 degrees from said first guidance member about the second axis.
 25. An assembly as set forth in claim 23 wherein said first and second sliding surfaces are spaced perpendicularly from the second axis for contacting the side walls of the cylinder as the piston head translates along the first axis.
 26. An assembly as set forth in claim 23 wherein said first and second guidance members are connected to said attachment boss.
 27. An assembly as set forth in claim 23 including a first support rib extending from said shaft perpendicularly to the second axis connecting said shaft to said first guidance member and including a second support rib extending from said shaft perpendicularly to the second axis connecting said shaft to said second guidance member.
 28. An assembly as set forth in claim 27 wherein said second support rib is spaced radially by approximately 180 degrees from said first support rib about the second axis.
 29. An assembly as set forth in claim 28 wherein said first and second support ribs extend radially outwardly from said attachment boss.
 30. An assembly as set forth in claim 29 including a ring surrounding said first and second guidance members and including a coating surface disposed on said first and second guidance members radially inward of said ring and wherein said first and second sliding surfaces are disposed on an outer surface of said ring.
 31. An assembly as set forth in claim 28 wherein a first distance is defined on a line between the first sliding surface and the second sliding surface perpendicular to the first axis and passing through an intersection of the first axis and the second axis and wherein said first distance is greater than any other distance being defined on a line between the first and second sliding surfaces perpendicular to the first axis defining a convex arc along said first and second sliding surfaces.
 32. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 including a piston pin extending along the second axis and disposed within said pin bores and said attachment bore of said connecting rod pivotably connecting said connecting rod to said piston head about the second axis.
 33. An assembly as set forth in claim 32 wherein said shaft is pivotable about said attachment bore for contacting a side wall of the cylinder on a point of contact of said sliding surface and for moving said point of contact between a top and bottom of said sliding surface as the piston head translates within the cylinder.
 34. A piston assembly comprising; a piston head for reciprocating within a cylinder along a first axis and having a top extending circumferentially about the first axis, said piston head including a ring belt extending downwardly from said top in the direction of the first axis, said piston head including a pair of pin bosses depending downwardly from said top in the direction of the first axis and disposed radially inward from said ring belt and said pin bosses defining pin bores therein aligned axially with each other defining a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, a connecting rod including a shaft and an attachment boss disposed at a first end of said shaft and said attachment boss defining an attachment bore axially aligned with said pin bores and disposed between said pin bosses, a piston pin inserted along said second axis radially within said pin bores and said attachment bore of said shaft pivotably connecting said connecting rod about the second axis to said piston head, and said connecting rod including at least one guidance member disposed on said shaft having a sliding surface for guiding said piston head during translation within the cylinder by contacting side walls of the cylinder with said sliding surface.
 35. An assembly as set forth in claim 34 wherein said sliding surface extends in the direction of the first axis between a top and a bottom and curves away from the first axis between the top of the sliding surface and an intermediate point intermediate the top and bottom and curves toward the first axis between the intermediate point and the bottom of the sliding surface defining a convex arc.
 36. An assembly as set forth in claim 34 including a first guidance member having a first sliding surface and a second guidance member having a second sliding surface spaced radially by approximately 180 degrees from said first guidance member about the second axis.
 37. An assembly as set forth in claim 36 including a ring surrounding said first and second guidance members and including a coating surface disposed on said first and second guidance members radially inward of said ring and wherein said first and second sliding surfaces are disposed on an outer surface of said ring.
 38. An assembly as set forth in claim 36 wherein a first distance is defined on a line between the first sliding surface and the second sliding surface perpendicular to the first axis and passing through an intersection of the first axis and the second axis and wherein said first distance is greater than any other distance being defined on a line between the first and second sliding surfaces perpendicular to the first axis defining a convex arc along said first and second sliding surfaces.
 39. An assembly as set forth in claim 36 including a first support rib extending from said shaft perpendicularly to the second axis connecting said shaft to said first guidance member and a second support rib extending from said shaft perpendicularly to the second axis connecting said shaft to said second guidance member.
 40. An assembly as set forth in claim 39 wherein said first and second support ribs extend radially outwardly from said attachment boss.
 41. An assembly as set forth in claim 34 wherein said shaft is pivotable about said attachment bore for contacting the side wall of the cylinder on a point of contact of said sliding surface and for moving said point of contact between a top and bottom of said sliding surface as the piston head translates within the cylinder.
 42. An engine comprising; an engine block having at least one bore formed therein defining a cylinder extending along a first axis, a piston assembly slidably disposed within said cylinder for reciprocating linearly within said cylinder along a piston stroke, said piston assembly including a piston head and a connecting rod connected to said piston head, and said connecting rod including a shaft and at least one guidance member disposed on said shaft and said guidance member including a sliding surface engaging said cylinder for sliding along said cylinder during the piston stroke.
 43. An engine as set forth in claim 42 wherein said sliding surface is defined as an arcuate surface.
 44. An engine as set forth in claim 43 wherein said sliding surface extends in the direction of the first axis between a top and a bottom and curves away from the first axis between the top of the sliding surface and an intermediate point intermediate the top and bottom and curves toward the first axis between the intermediate point and the bottom of the sliding surface defining a convex arc.
 45. An engine as set forth in claim 42 wherein said connecting rod includes a first guidance member having a first sliding surface engaging a first portion of a side wall of said cylinder and a second guidance member having a second sliding surface engaging a second portion of said side wall of said cylinder.
 46. An engine as set forth in claim 45 wherein said connecting rod includes an attachment boss disposed at a first end of said shaft defining an attachment bore defining a second axis and connecting said connecting rod to said piston head.
 47. An engine as set forth in claim 46 wherein said connecting rod includes a first support rib extending from said shaft connecting said shaft to said first guidance member and a second support rib extending from said shaft connecting said shaft to said second guidance member.
 48. An engine as set forth in claim 47 wherein said first and second support ribs extend radially outwardly from said attachment boss.
 49. An engine as set forth in claim 48 wherein said second support rib is spaced radially about the second axis by approximately 180 degrees from said first support rib.
 50. An engine as set forth in claim 49 including a ring surrounding said first and second guidance members and including a coating surface disposed on said first and second guidance members radially inward of said ring and wherein said first and second sliding surfaces are disposed on an outer surface of said ring.
 51. An engine as set forth in claim 49 wherein a first distance is defined on a line between the first sliding surface and the second sliding surface perpendicular to the first axis and passing through an intersection of the first axis and the second axis and wherein said first distance is greater than any other distance being defined on a line between the first and second sliding surfaces perpendicular to the first axis defining a convex arc along said first and second sliding surfaces.
 52. An engine as set forth in claim 51 including a pair of pin bosses defining a pair of pin bores connected to said piston head and axially aligned with said attachment boss for pivoting said connecting rod relative to the piston head about the second axis during the piston stroke for contacting a side wall of said cylinder on a point of contact of said first and second sliding surfaces and for moving said point of contact between a top and bottom of said first and second sliding surfaces as the piston assembly translates along the piston stroke.
 53. An engine as set forth in claim 42 including a crankshaft having a crank and wherein said connecting rod includes a crankshaft boss disposed at a second end of said shaft defining a crankshaft bore pivotably connected to said crank.
 54. A method of guiding a piston assembly within a cylinder of an engine comprising the steps of; reciprocating a piston head linearly along a piston stroke defined along a first axis within the cylinder, pivoting a connecting rod about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis relative to the piston head, and sliding a portion of the connecting rod along a side wall of the cylinder to guide the piston head.
 55. A method as set forth in claim 54 wherein said step of sliding the portion of the connecting rod is further defined as sliding a guidance member connected to a shaft of the connecting rod along the side wall of the cylinder along a point of contact.
 56. A method as set forth in claim 55 wherein said step of pivoting the connecting rod is further defined as moving the point of contact along the guidance member during the piston stroke.
 57. A method as set forth in claim 54 further defined as defining the second axis through an attachment bore defined within an attachment boss formed at a first end of a shaft of the connecting rod and aligned with a pair of pin bores defined within a pair of pin bosses connected to the piston head.
 58. A method as set forth in claim 56 wherein said step of sliding the portion of the connecting rod is further defined as sliding a guidance member extending from the attachment boss along the side wall of the cylinder along a point of contact. 